25 Assisted Living Communities in Rockland County, New York

The average cost of assisted living in the county is $5,916 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the county, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 25 Assisted Living Communities in Rockland County and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $5,916
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $12,091
• In-home care: $4,576
• Adult day health services: $1,950

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost for assisted living in Rockland County is $5,916. This exceeds the national average ($4,000) and the state average ($4,185) by nearly $2,000. Rockland County is one of the most expensive regions in New York for assisted living. Other areas, such as Buffalo ($3,895), Glens Falls ($2,600) and Kingston ($4,100), have lower average costs. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Rockland County, so data for the New York City metropolitan area was used. 

As seniors plan for long-term care, it’s crucial to understand the costs associated with each long-term care option. In Rockland County, for example, the monthly costs of a semiprivate room in a nursing home ($12,091) are more than twice those of a private room in an assisted living facility ($5,916). The costs of in-home care ($4,576), on the other hand, are more than $1,000 less than the costs of assisted living. While assisted living costs outpace those of in-home care in Rockland County, they usually include utility fees and other living expenses, such as rent/mortgage, maintenance and meals. Seniors who choose in-home care will have to budget for home expenses on top of their current expenses.  Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $5,916

• Homemaker services: $4,576

• Home health aide: $4,767

• Adult day health: $1,950

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $12,091

Medicaid provides health care coverage to New York seniors who can’t afford medical care. Qualified seniors receive benefits, such as health and dental treatment/preventative care, laboratory and X-ray services, home health care, medicine, transportation services, medical equipment and mental health care. While the standard New York Medicaid program does cover care in a nursing home, it does not cover costs of assisted living. To receive financial assistance for assisted living costs, seniors may need to apply to an additional program, discussed in greater detail below. 

The New York Medicaid plan classifies individuals age 65 and older as part of the non-MAGI eligibility group. Non-MAGI applicants must apply via the Rockland County Department of Social Services. Seniors can print and complete the standard application or the application for the visually impaired. They can also visit their local DSS if they need assistance completing the application. 

To receive Medicaid assistance, Rockland County seniors must meet the state’s eligibility guidelines. In terms of income, single adults over the age of 65 cannot have a monthly income that exceeds $859. The income limit is raised to $1,267 for a two-person household. Certain types of personal property, such as homes and cars, are excluded from the calculation of resources. Qualifying seniors must also be a US citizen or have eligible immigration status. 

If seniors are accepted into the Medicaid program, they will be enrolled in the state’s Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) system. It is designed to deliver long-term assistance to aging adults who want to remain in their homes or communities. It offers three plan options: MLTC Medicaid Plan, Medicaid Advantage Plus and Program for All-Inclusive Plan for the Elderly (PACE). Once seniors have chosen the plan that best suits their needs, a counselor from New York Medicaid Choice will work with them to create a long-term care plan. 

To contact the New York Medicaid Choice office, Rockland County seniors can call (888) 401-6582. 

Assisted Living Program

In New York, seniors can fund the cost of assisted living services via the Assisted Living Program (ALP). The ALP helps qualified individuals receive assistance in a licensed setting less medically intensive than a nursing home. When in these environments, seniors may receive benefits such as housekeeping, nursing, physical/occupational therapy and case management services. 

To qualify for the ALP, seniors must meet specific requirements:

• They must be medically eligible for a nursing home setting and able to demonstrate that they don’t have a suitable home environment
• They cannot require continual nursing care; seniors who are chronically bedfast or have conditions that endanger the safety of others do not qualify
• In terms of income, the ALP opens admission to Medicaid recipients and seniors whose income exceeds the Medicaid limits. Instead of using the standard monthly Medicaid limit of $859 (single) per month, the ALP uses the SSI Congregate Care Level III limit of $1,465 per month.

The ALP has a residential limit of 4,200, and approximately 85 percent of these residents are Medicaid recipients. Due to the enrollment cap, not all eligible seniors are accepted into the program. New York has committed to adding 6,000 slots, so acceptance rates may increase. 

Seniors on Medicaid must have their ALP services approved by the Rockland County DSS before they apply to the ALP. To apply, approved Medicaid recipients, and private payers, should contact the ALP directly. If seniors are accepted, they will move into an ALP facility regulated by the State Department of Health. The DOH ensures that each facility has sufficient staff and meets prescribed environmental standards.  

The Rockland County Office for the Aging assists and advocates for the area’s senior population. They oversee programs like CHORE, EISEP, Empower NY and Caregiver Respite.  Rockland County Office for the Aging
50 Sanatorium Road, Bldg B, Pomona, NY 10970
(845) 364-2110

The local Veterans Service Agency can help aging veterans find, receive and apply for benefits. The agency offers a comprehensive benefit counseling service, which assists veterans at every step of the process, from the initial claim preparation to the appeals process. 

Rockland County Veterans Service Agency 
20 Squadron Blvd, Suite 480, New City, NY 10956
(845) 638-5244

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.